This cute one-eyed ‘therapy dog’ is helping doctors and nurses battling COVID-19 on the frontlines to reduce their stress levels.
Little ‘Harley El Tuerto’ (‘Harley One-Eye’) has been used as a therapy dog at the National Medical Centre in the central Mexican capital Mexico City for three years.
National Medical Centre psychologist Lucia Ledesma Torres told local media that “interaction is free” for stressed-out medics and that they can often feel better by “holding it, stroking it or even just watching” little Harley.
She added that “the little dog has the best characteristics for these kinds of interactions” as it sociable and enjoys being petted.
Reports said that Harley lost an eye in an accident, but did not detail what happened to the little pooch.
Therapy dogs are commonly used in medical centres for helping staff and patients to reduce their stress levels or to give them a boost when they are feeling down.
Ledesma Torres said that Harley is based in the centre from 6.30am until its shift ends at 2pm.
She said: “We try to see the medics before they go into the COVID-19 unity which is when they often have mixed emotions.”
After its shift, little Harley has its PPE taken off and it enjoys a bath back at Ledesma Torres’ house.
According to the latest figures from the Johns Hopkins University, Mexico has registered 29,616 cases of COVID-19 and 2,961 related deaths.
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Story By: Ana Lacasa, Sub-Editor: Michael Leidig, Agency: Newsflash
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